I suppose that if his foreknowledge is of the petitioner coming to him in a way that causes God to grant the request, then he knows that he will do so; and if he knows from all eternity that this person is not one of his own and he therefore doesn't find the petition to be acceptable, it won't be honored. The advance knowledge doesn't really determine the answer to the prayer in question.
If you don't ask, you probably won't receive. At least that's what a lot of Scripture seems to be advising us.
God can't do anything on earth unless His people pray. Daniel had to fast and pray for 20 days, so God could answer him. We have to pray that His will be also done on earth. Man got the authority over the earth, gave it to satan. Jesus took it back, went to heaven and gave the authority to the church. Jesus doesn't reign on earth yet.
So, let's say I develop a debilitating condition. If I don't pray for healing I should not think God will heal me? What if I consistently pray prayers of praise, but not prayers of intercession for specific things, the implication is that God desires us to praise him (and well we should do), but if I don't add specific prayers for action then I should not expect action?
That does not seem right. God has shown action in many ways and including in people's lives that are not Christian. Just because scripture shows that God apparently answers prayers made does not mean that he can't take action without them.
Fair enough, but if the authority is vested in the Church then how does that work? Is it the church universal? Just Trinitarian Christians? Just Catholics? If all Christians receive that authority via the Holy Spirit....why can't the Spirit work in this world without our specific prayers? Jesus may not reign in this Earthly realm, but he sent the Holy Spirit.
Yes, that is my mistake, I do mean "since".
That makes a lot more sense, thank you.
I don't know. You may heal too when you praise God.
It wasn't a blanket statement. I was merely responding to your question asking "Why make intercession (if God already knows everything?)" Well, that's because prayer is effective with God. Whether God already knows the outcome doesn't change that.
I was under the impression that that the point here dealt with the likelihood of God responding.
Ah, ok, thank you.
My quote was more directed at the other member, not so much in relation to what you wrote.